Wednesday, June 25, 2008

On Wednesday June 25th, the Greeley Tribune reported on the visit by three Orange Unified Trustees to Greeley District 6 Schools. The three OUSD Trustees, Wes Poutsma, Kathy Moffat, and Kimberly Nichols, made the trip to Greeley as the final part of an interview process aimed at hiring Greeley District 6 Superintendent Renae Dreier to replace retiring OUSD Superintendent Dr. Thomas Godley. The OUSD Trustee’s trip during the current budget crisis has been controversial. Some Greater Orange Community members have dubbed the budget crisis trip , the Dreier Junket because it appears that Dreier’s hiring is a forgone conclusion, complete with a special reception already in the works for a July 22 Special Board meeting.

In a telephone interview with the Tribune, Victoria Webber, Executive Secretary to OUSD Superintendent Dr. Godley told the Tribune that while aware of local community objections, OUSD has no comment on the community's objection to the trip. Webber also confirmed to the Tribune the information reported on by Orange Net News about the July 22nd meeting to hire Dreier was correct. The Tribune story reports that Webber stated the meeting was just preparation and not a foregone conclusion. Webber told the Tribune that the purpose of the OUSD Trustee trip was to check out the surroundings to make sure everything they heard is accurate. The report also states that the reporter had telephoned both Poutsma and Dreier, but neither one returned the telephone calls.

The Tribune also interviewed District 6 Board President Bruce Broderius who met with the OUSD Board delegation. The report states that Broderius had a detailed conversation about Dreier’s character and how she response to the pressures of the job. Broderius reported that the resignation of Greeley Central H.S. Principal Mark Rangel over a work-time extra-martial affair did come up in the conversations with the OUSD Trustees.

Former Greeley Chamber of Commerce leader Vicki Sears told the Tribune that she was present during the meeting of Greeley officials and the OUSD Board members and that the comments were positive. Sears stated she had a gut feeling that OUSD would hire Dreier.